Validation of Malay version of the COVID-19 burnout scale

• Main Authors: Ang, Chin-Siang, Lee, Kai Wei, Voon, Siok Ping, Ho, Meng Chuan, Tan, Chai Eng, Ching, Siew Mooi, Ooi, Pei Boon
• Other Authors: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Science::Medicine; Burnout; COVID-19
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/170594
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Objectives: From early 2020, Malaysia had to implement nationwide lockdowns, quarantines, and other social distancing practices to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus, leading to symptoms of psychosocial burnout among the people. The aim of the present research is to develop and validate a Malay language version of the COVID-19 Burnout Scale (M-COVID-19-BS). Methods: This three-phase study was conducted among Malaysian population. Phase 1 involved forward and backward translations of the Scale to Malay language by four professional bilingual translators. In Phase 2, the new M-COVID-19-BS instrument was piloted on 30 participants who suggested minor lexical modifications. Phase 3 consisted of online recruiting of Malaysian citizens to answer a composite questionnaire comprising the M-COVID-19-BS, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Data were statistically analyzed. Results: The composite four-part questionnaire in Malay was answered by N = 225 Malaysian citizens. The M-COVID-19-BS instrument demonstrated a good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.926) and had a unidimensional factor structure. M-COVID-19-BS scores positively correlated with the three CBI subscales, showing evidence of convergent validity. Negative correlation was reported between M-COVID-19-BS and WHOQOL-BREF, achieving discriminant validity. M-COVID-19-BS also exhibited moderate positive correlations with the FCV-19S, thus supporting its concurrent validity. Conclusions: Results demonstrate that M-COVID-19-BS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess burnout symptoms related to COVID-19 among Malay-speaking populations either collectively or as a self-care tool to detect burnout symptoms without needing to further burden the already overwhelmed Malaysian healthcare system.